Adoptions

We are open for adoptions 7 days a week, from 12:00PM – 5:30PM Monday through Friday, and from 12:00PM – 4:30PM on Saturday and Sunday. Everyone that comes to the shelter to look must have an Adoption Application on file with us. You may either fill one out when you come in, or you may print the application and bring it in with you.

Adoption application must be filled out and approved prior to taking an animal home.

The following form must be downloaded and filled out EXCEPT for the applicant's signature. The form must then be submitted to ASCMV staff, who must be present to witness the signature.

Pre-Adoption Questionaire (pdf)


The adoption fee for dogs is $75.00, which includes:

  • Spay/Neuter Surgery
  • First Set of Vaccinations (maybe more, depending on how long the animal has been with us)
  • Rabies Vaccination
  • Heartworm Test
  • 24PetWatch Microchip (implant and registration)
  • City License, for customers residing within Las Cruces city limits
  • A complimentary 30-day insurance policy provided by ShelterCare

The adoption fee for cats is $50.00, which includes:

  • Spay/Neuter Surgery
  • First Set of Vaccinations (maybe more, depending on how long the animal has been with us)
  • Rabies Vaccination
  • Feline Leukemia Virus/Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Combo Test
  • 24PetWatch Microchip (implant and registration)
  • City License, for customers residing within Las Cruces city limits
  • A complimentary 30-day insurance policy provided by ShelterCare

Adoption Fee for all Other Pets

  • Rabbits : $10.00
  • Chickens/Ducks/Geese : $5.00
  • Guinea Pigs/Hamsters/Mice : $5.00
  • Ferrets : $20.00
  • Goats : $30.00
  • Pot-Bellied Pig : $5.00

Each animal entering into a sheltering facility is at risk of contracting illness. More than 40 animals, on average, are delivered to this facility each day. Very little health history is known about the vast majority of these animals, and it is unlikely that most have received the necessary vaccinations to protect against illness. Each animal received by this facility is routinely examined by trained staff for signs of illness. However, many of the common illnesses found in an animal sheltering facility will often lie dormant in the animal’s body for several weeks at a time. As a result, the animal may actually have contracted an illness even though he or she is showing no identifiable signs of that illness. If an animal has contracted an illness, the symptoms are likely to be expressed during high-stress events, such as moving into a new home or undergoing sterilization surgery.

In an effort to facilitate healthy adoptions, the Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley employs a Foster-to-Adopt Program. This program ensures that each animal is more thoroughly immunized against illness prior to being sterilized and prior to being adopted. In the Foster-to-Adopt Program, the animal is able to go home with his or her new family; however, he or she must undergo an initial Vaccination and Observation Period prior to the actual adoption taking place. The adoption process is only finalized once the animal is deemed ready and has undergone his or her sterilization surgery. The length of each animal’s Vaccination and Observation Period may vary greatly, depending on several factors. Such factors will include: the animal’s length of stay at the sheltering facility, the animal’s level of immunity, and the severity of any illness that may present itself during the Observation Period. Many animals in this program will begin showing signs of illness shortly after arriving at their new home. If and when this occurs, the animal will stay in the home while the Center coordinates with the new family to implement a Treatment Program for the animal. Allowing the animal to remain in the home and out of the sheltering facility during this Treatment Program greatly increases the chances of a full recovery. All medical treatment the animal requires during this period will be provided by the Center at no cost to the animal’s new family.

This program allows many more lives to be saved; however, a significant commitment is required on the part of the animal’s new family, and the risks and benefits must be weighed by each potential adopter.

The Center’s Office Staff is available to answer any questions you may have about this program.

Thank you for giving these animals a chance, and for helping to save a life.